Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Graham Clune on July 13, 2012 at 9:29pm

Agree with you 110% Bob.

The leaders of Australia lack any real vision whatsoever.

LNG should be used to fuel all the needs of the Australian industries at low cost and then IF there is any of it left over they can sell it off. I am currently involved with two copper/gold mining projects in Mongolia and both have built concentrators right there on site to process the ore. Both are drawing water from the underground aquifiers (read artesian style basins) and one is building a power station to provide their own power. One is being developed by a major international player who also operates in Australia and is putting in the infrastructure to develop the mines. The Mongolian Govt. is not providing any infrastructure because they are cash strapped but they have a "strategic' position in the operating company.

Australian leaders (of all political persuasions) need to wake up to themselves and start developing the nation. A bunch of thieving drop kicks in there now.

BTW: I work in the middle of the Gobi Desert and can enjoy internet speeds as fast as any place that I have been in the world and certainly faster than in the middle of Brisbane. All via a single 3m satdish.

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Permalink Reply by Jeff Hutcho on July 13, 2012 at 11:38pm

Bob,

They do not need NBN for 24/7 TV, as there is the VAST system for areas that are not serviced by terrestrial transmissions. The VAST system is satellite based, using the same 1m dish that Fox/Austar use, and it gives the same 16+ TV channels that consumers get across Australia. They also will receive other services such as Imparja from Alice Springs. People that do the round Australia caravan thing can qualify for the use of VAST as well. Hence you will see a lot of caravans with dishes attached.

Satellite Internet is the same, the speeds are much as Graham gets using satellite Internet in Mongolia.

Also available using satellite is an upgrade of distance learning, using an internet like system for schooling, where they used to use old Traeger or AWA two-way, push to talk radio for distant education.

NBN is mostly Not Bloody Needed, except in some circumstances such as industrial strength volume users and users such as remote medical procedures (robot surgeons). Then it should be user pays.

-

Maybe if some of these 'save the planet ' types thought about it they could move those Tim Flannery endorsed desal plants from the capital cities out to the CSG fields and clean up the water they've disturbed in the release of CSG, so it can be used for irrigation and food production.

And yes , I totally agree, Australia's energy first. Use it to become competitive in mining, refining and value adding.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 14, 2012 at 9:44am

Still going around in little circles while the LN gas alternative for duel fuel cars is ignored for the fast buck in exporting 4,000,000 tonnes a year of LNG to China and now a similar amount to Japan. It is not disingenuous to question, if we have so much to give away for peanuts then why are we importing oil from a dysfunctional Middle East?

Are we funding al Queada? Diesel engines will run quite well on canola,or the waste cooking oil from the fishnchip shop. But that would relate to vast areas of forest and fertile lands being cleared to grow oil crops for fuel in direct conflict with the need to grow food to feed a 9 billion population. We need the LNG at home, dual fuel engines up to 3000cc mandatory and those phased out to burn LNG within 5 years. Flinders Uni was at one time developing a battery electric power unit for a small car. What happened to that for an urban domestic mover of people and packages?

To view comment online go to: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/national/petrol-prices-drive-up-...

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 14, 2012 at 9:57am

....and another thing.

If we have so much to give away, why are we still digging huge holes and exporting the minerals instead of producing the ingot metals here? Can you imagine so much new employment and increased tax revenue from the added value of such a change?

The only thing stopping this progress to high speed electric rail and manufacturing the things of the world, and a better life from the added value for our future, is the energy that we are giving away for peanuts and politicians who would sell out the Nation for their own agenda. The Greens included who should get out of the way until they present practical solutions to the problems they think they have identified.

To view comment online go to: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/santos-moomba-upgrade-worth-hundreds-...

An upgrade worth billions? To who?

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 14, 2012 at 11:58am

Then I wonder who is getting the Money, Jeff?

Jeff Hutcho said:

Bob,

They do not need NBN for 24/7 TV, as there is the VAST system for areas that are not serviced by terrestrial transmissions. The VAST system is satellite based, using the same 1m dish that Fox/Austar use, and it gives the same 16+ TV channels that consumers get across Australia. They also will receive other services such as Imparja from Alice Springs. People that do the round Australia caravan thing can qualify for the use of VAST as well. Hence you will see a lot of caravans with dishes attached.

Satellite Internet is the same, the speeds are much as Graham gets using satellite Internet in Mongolia.

Also available using satellite is an upgrade of distance learning, using an internet like system for schooling, where they used to use old Traeger or AWA two-way, push to talk radio for distant education.

NBN is mostly Not Bloody Needed, except in some circumstances such as industrial strength volume users and users such as remote medical procedures (robot surgeons). Then it should be user pays.

-

Maybe if some of these 'save the planet ' types thought about it they could move those Tim Flannery endorsed desal plants from the capital cities out to the CSG fields and clean up the water they've disturbed in the release of CSG, so it can be used for irrigation and food production.

And yes , I totally agree, Australia's energy first. Use it to become competitive in mining, refining and value adding.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on July 14, 2012 at 12:04pm

Talking about satellite dishes on the grey nomads trail, that's me and phil, we don't tow a caravan, as we find the money we save in towing gets us lovely unite in a caravan park with a front veranda, ware at the end of the day we just jump out of the car, take a overnight bag in no trying to park the caravan which we have watch some do its quiet entertaining at times, as we sitting on a veranda with a red and phil a smoke.

But my job is to unpack the satellite dish, we carry it everywhere, and once more when we hit the big towns phill always gets his little gismoe out to see if we can get signal, so our booking in depends upon signal, so one day he span me a story at cable beech, caravan park was filled. We had stop at villa type units, he went in to book in, came back out and had told me, we have to take to top one here as its the only one with a signal, I think it was 350 a night, so angry with him because of the dam signal, and then he found we needed a smaller dish, and yep he went and bought that too, the most important piece of luggage is the satellite dish, and it fits neetley in the car along with tripod.  I must admit every day I’m able to talk to my kids and send photos back home, and could empty my camera, the villa was pretty special and a real treat for us, as we had driven long k's to get there, we had a great time met some great people, which made it even more special and still contact with them today.  My Phil is a tamperer, he likes to make sure our computers are running and telephones working,  always the dish sits along side the car on veranda, his cunning as now his trained me to bolt and unbolt, mainly because of his health I have to pitch in.  I remember one time up in Darwin, we had some people watching the footy with us, we totally didn't know them, but it made our night watching together under the stars, hopeful we can hit the road again soon.

We found though some caravaner's still have trouble in finding the signals with their dishes, so phil loves it, gets his little gismo out and is only to eager to help, makes his day and gives him something to do as well.

The fast internet this government bestowed upon us, spending big dollars, seams we don't need it wasting tax payers money once again, and once more you never hear how that's work out, kept very quiet. 

Jeff Hutcho said:

Bob,

They do not need NBN for 24/7 TV, as there is the VAST system for areas that are not serviced by terrestrial transmissions. The VAST system is satellite based, using the same 1m dish that Fox/Austar use, and it gives the same 16+ TV channels that consumers get across Australia. They also will receive other services such as Imparja from Alice Springs. People that do the round Australia caravan thing can qualify for the use of VAST as well. Hence you will see a lot of caravans with dishes attached.

Satellite Internet is the same, the speeds are much as Graham gets using satellite Internet in Mongolia.

Also available using satellite is an upgrade of distance learning, using an internet like system for schooling, where they used to use old Traeger or AWA two-way, push to talk radio for distant education.

NBN is mostly Not Bloody Needed, except in some circumstances such as industrial strength volume users and users such as remote medical procedures (robot surgeons). Then it should be user pays.

-

Maybe if some of these 'save the planet ' types thought about it they could move those Tim Flannery endorsed desal plants from the capital cities out to the CSG fields and clean up the water they've disturbed in the release of CSG, so it can be used for irrigation and food production.

And yes , I totally agree, Australia's energy first. Use it to become competitive in mining, refining and value adding.

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on July 14, 2012 at 12:15pm

The Iron Lady, she certainly is,  you would have thought she would have paid her step sister’s house off for her, with all that wealth she’s got, I mean to say what’s a couple hundred grand to her,  Does make you wonder what is really going in her own family over the wealth situation whose fault it really is. The old saying money can't buy you happiness. but my answer to that is,  it can go along way if used wisely.  Maybe this is what Gina is doing at the end of the day, nearly choke on my cuppa then.

 Bringing in labor workers from overseas instead of using our men certainly shows her up where her interest lies.  Its all to do with the hip pocket at the end of the day, and yes this government is just as greedy, their only thinking of the hip pocket as well, certainly chasing the $ to make up for all their indiscretions mistakes money being wasted left right and centre.  No differently haven’t got Australia’s best interested at heart, else they wouldn’t have misused our money like they have done. You only have to look at every project they’ve started, failure failure failure.  Is there any that’s turn out right.  And now Jina seems to have pulled the wool or should I say mining over their eyes, but it’s interesting with the news paper seats on the board, is it going to be one day Julia v Jina when it comes to editing what’s been said.

Barb

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 14, 2012 at 12:58pm

It sounds like 'have dish will travel' Barbara. But what a great idea of Phil's.

I have been wondering about open cut mining in Australia when Bob started this discussion topic. Could not the Government bring in some Legislation which required the owner of the mine to install water pipe lines in once the mining is finished and the hole left could collect rain water for irrigation. The water pipe lines could join up the large dams and our arid areas could be irrigated and used for food production. It is just a thought that I had and would like to hear from others re its feasibility.

I do agree with contributors that our minerals should be processed on site and LNG sold to Australia first at a lesser price as, according to the Government, 'the people own the minerals' so we should have a say in where it is processed and first option to buy the LNG.   

Kind regards

Caroline

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Permalink Reply by Bob Stewart on July 14, 2012 at 2:13pm

Bro Al, I had mentioned in an earlier note that pipelines are too long and thereby vulnerable and you are right to consider the tankers to deliver to capital cities. Adelaide has a pipeline from Moomba but even from that field to other capital cities is a bit of a stretch 
alan mikkelsen said:

Not trying to sound smart, but I think there is a bit of misunderstanding above over the local use of NG. (ie methane, both  'conventional' meaning from porous, former marine basin strata as with 'conventional' oil, and now, CSG and shale gas).

With our existing LNG exports, these go direct from source to overseas destinations in internationally registered tankers, operating under crewing pay rates that apply everywhere except on Oz coastal shipping. Recently, the Unions, in collaboration with the feral green coalition government and Fair Work Australia, had a big 'win' mandating that all shipping between Oz ports has to fully meet Oz crewing rules, including pay rates, penalties etc. The efffect of this is as you would guess - economic, competitive suicide.

So let's pipeline it? Well as we all know with respect to the Qld / Gladstone CSG export projects, not everyone is enamoured of pipelines, and they are a big capital expense. So NG from the off-shore WA fields to the east coast? Will investors line up? Would you??

The second point is that vehicular use onf methane is not as LNG which would be hugely expensive to engineer, if even possible, but of CNG - compressed natural gas. CNG is already a great and viable fuel for large transport use, but making it a competitive 'goer' for your Commodore or whatever is entirely a different kettle of biofuel. There is a heap of technical detail on this sort of stuff for those who love to Google, just be careful not to take every statement from 'vested interest' sites on either side, as gospel. But that should hold true when investigating any controversial topic, shouldn't it?

Finally, for those interested in more of this sort of stuff, do go and have a look at the Abiotic Oil Forum on JG (presently in one of its 'dormant' periods), which I am sure you will find very interesting.

Cheers  bro' al

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Permalink Reply by Rae Billett on July 14, 2012 at 3:14pm

You know if it were not for people like Gina Rinehart this country would not be an economical powerhouse today as compared to the rest of the world. It certainly has not been the politicians making this country great. 

 

I don't know what Gina Rinehart thinks nor do I even care what she does in her private life. I know she built another fortune when the one her father built floundered, so, who cares what the woman does personally.

 

We don't know if she is as tough as some make out or as tight with money. Gina Rinehart has never been one to be in the public domain, too busy building her company, she is a private person. For all we know she may well be a great philanthropist. There's no way information like that would be publicised - that is the way she is.

 

I just wish people would leave it alone because it doesn't matter. More power to her.   

 

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Permalink Reply by Barbara lee on July 14, 2012 at 7:40pm

 What you say is quite right none of our business Rae, I’m for that.  But after seeing her sister in law on tallie, yep couldn’t help but seeing how happy her life was as appose to Jina’s, could be the opposite way around of course, as it can be turned around to produce the outrageous headlines that sells .

 I’m open to that.  Who are we to judge at the end of the day,  but when it comes to Aussie men and women who are rob of jobs, what about the men Gina’s bringing in from over sea's to do the mining jobs ,  Aussie men who need jobs badly as their getting put off each day now thanks to this crazie government, Aussie truckers’ that have a family and houses to pay off,  truckers have the biggest cost to maintain their trucks on the road is big bucks, ok they get given a truck to drive down in the pits, and they have the best knowledge to do this job in the pits,  now their getting  knock backs when applying for jobs,   this is what I have heard knock backs,  yes well trained drivers knock backs.

 How does that make it right Rae when they have a lively hood to maintain family needs to up hold?   Mortgage up to their eye balls to be pay off.   As a struggler I know how hard that can be.   And even Julia is mad over this, dam didn’t ever think I would be on the same playing field as her well she is well known to be covering up.  I'm saying that I barrack for the Aussie battlers have much to lose and spend many hours on that road of ours holding Aussies together, their entitle if needing a job working in the mines, as this carbon tax hits harder and is hurting more pockets, squeezing the Aussie truckers who needs to feed his family, while the others from other countries are getting look after, why because they don’t have to pay as much.  Gina has enough money to go around twilling times around.   Our truckers do a magnificent job in keeping Aussies afloat and if their finding it a bit hard  because of this dam government  carbon tax thats been built on a lie , as their is no doubt about that,  should be the first ones to be help out, obviously not,,as Gina is helping  overseas out instead first.

Barb 

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Permalink Reply by Dr Caroline Wright on July 14, 2012 at 8:01pm

I need to explain my earlier point about water pipe lines between open cut mines which could be used to collect rain water when they have finished mining. It would enable Australia to develop more family farmland and communities and help to decentralise cities which are currently water intensive.

This hypothesis would of course depend on whether the mining stops when it hits clay pans which would enable the dams to hold water. It is a possibility worth considering and could be built into the granting of mining licences in ore rich states.

Kind regards

Caroline 

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